Y?hei Sasakawa (?? ??) is chairman of The Nippon Foundation, the World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, and Japan's Ambassador for the Human Rights of People Affected by leprosy. His global fight against leprosy and its accompanying stigma and social discrimination is an issue to which he has remained highly committed for more than 40 years. As chairman of The Nippon Foundation, Japan's largest charitable foundation, he is seen as a pioneer in guiding public-interest activities by the private in modern Japan. Sasakawa received his degree from Meiji University’s School of Political Science and Economics. Sasakawa's father was businessman, politician, and philanthropist Ry?ichi Sasakawa.

Gender Equality, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and Partnership for the Goals

The Foundation has five priority goals: further strengthening the Japan–U.S. relationship, expanding Japan’s presence in Asia, enhancing understanding of and relationships with Islamic countries, establishing ocean governance, and empowering women. A host of projects are funded by the Sasakawa Pacific island Nations Fund program, Sasakawa Pan Asia Fund program, Sasakawa Japan - China Friendship Fund program, Sasakawa Middle East Islam Fund program. The Nippon Foundation (????) of Tokyo, Japan, is a private, non-profit grant-making organization. It was established in 1962 by Ryoichi Sasakawa, a late statesman and businessman. The foundation's mission is to direct Japanese motorboat racing revenue into philanthropic activities, and it uses these monies to pursue global maritime development and assistance for humanitarian work, both at home and abroad. In the humanitarian field, it focuses on such fields as social welfare, public health, and education. The current chairman is Yohei Sasakawa, World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar, and the son of the foundation's founder, Ryoichi Sasakawa.